The Bible tells us, we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. When
we die, our eternal destiny is sealed. Godís mercy does not extend beyond the
grave. Because of sin, we are eternally separated from God. We are eternally
lost. God has provided a way to escape this death sentence. All sin must be
paid for, so God sent His only begotten Son to pay the price for your sins,
to pay your sentence of death. Jesus died a horrible death on the cross. He
was marred worse than any man. They plucked out His beard. They tortured Him,
whipped Him, spit on Him, and mocked Him. Jesus Christ, Godís only begotten
Son, suffered this torment for you, to redeem you, to purchase you, so that
you might have life and have it more abundantly.To receive Godís forgiveness,
you must be willing to trust in Jesus Christ as your only hope of salvation.
This is done by faith. You receive Godís forgiveness through faith. You must
be willing to turn from all sin (repent) and obey the Gospel. In this message,
I wish to examine the following items: what is sin, what is repentance, how
do we trust in Jesus, how are we redeemed, and one method Satan uses to deceive
us.In todayís churches, the fear
of God is seldom preached, yet fear is mentioned in the Bible about 396 times.
We are not to fear what man can do to us, but we are to fear God. Pv 14:2 tells
us, HE THAT WALKETH IN HIS UPRIGHTNESS FEARETH THE LORD. Jesus spoke these words
in Mt 10:28-FEAR NOT THEM WHICH KILL THE BODY, BUT ARE NOT ABLE TO KILL THE
SOUL: BUT RATHER FEAR HIM WHICH IS ABLE TO DESTROY BOTH BODY SOUL AND BODY IN
HELL. God does not give us a spirit of fear, but of power. We are to trust in
Jesus. We are to fear no man or circumstances. We love God with all our heart.
The Scriptures tell us to fear the Lord and depart from evil. Therefore, Satan
will attempt to tell you not to fear God and His judgments. We recall when we
are approaching a traffic light, we do not go through the red light for fear
that we will get a ticket. It is not our love for the police officer that stops
us from going through a red light, but rather fearing that we will get caught.
We may be speeding down a highway. We know it is wrong, yet we do it. All of
a sudden, we see a police officer parked along the side of the highway. So what
do we do? Immediately, we get a bit scared, and may look to our speedometer
and slow down. Why? Because we are afraid we will get a ticket. If the police
officer comes after us with his siren going, what emotion do we feel? Is it
not fear that we will get a ticket, with perhaps even further consequences,
such as we may have to go to court? Do we slow down because we love the police
officer or because we are afraid? Likewise, we are to fear the Lord and depart
from evil.So we may ask, "How does
Satan work to stop us from fearing God?" Let us look at Gen. 3:1. Satan
first caused doubt in Eveís mind about what God had said, by saying the words,
YEA, HATH GOD SAID, YE SHALL NOT EAT OF EVERY TREE OF THE GARDEN? Note: Satan
did not say eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
He said, EAT OF EVERY TREE. Then Satan goes on to counter Godís command by saying
in verse 4-YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE. He contradicts Godís words. In doing so,
he eliminates the one thing that could prevent Eve from eating of the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil. Satan tells Eve, YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE. In
doing this, he eliminated the fear of Godís judgment. God had warned not to
eat of the tree of the KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL-Gen 2:17. God gave further
warning of what the consequences of disobedience would be. The sentence or judgment
for disobedience would be Gen 2:17-FOR IN THE DAY THAT THOU EATEST THEREOF THOU
SHALT SURELY DIE. Therefore, they were afraid to disobey God, for surely they
did not want to die. Thus, Satan realized he must eliminate the fear of Godís
judgment. Satan must eliminate from Adam and Eve, their fear of God, and what
He would do. He accomplished this by saying, YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE. By creating
doubt, the clarity of Godís warning and the fear of Godís judgment was eliminated.
After further being tempted by Satan, Eve chose to believe Satanís lies. She
went forth without fearing God, and did sin. She may willingly have chosen to
believe the devilís word over Godís Word, because her heart wanted to eat of
the fruit after she was tempted.Satan has also accomplished
the same in many churches today. Many preach the love of God, but only a few
preach the fear of God as the Scriptures teach. Know this, Heb 9:27-IT IS APPOINTED
UNTO MEN ONCE TO DIE, BUT AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT. Satan is cunning beyond all
of your expectations. For this reason, we do not go by feelings, but rather,
we are to live by the "Word of God".Dr. Karl Menninger asked the
question, "Whatever became of sin?" An outstanding prison reformer
and psychiatrist, he states, "Almost no one talks about it (sin) anymore.
We donít talk about sin on weekdays, and we hear about it only a few minutes
on Sunday, if at all." A minister in England declared the Ten Commandments
were not applicable for today. He ordered their discontinuance from his services.
But the Bible says, BY THE LAW IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN-Ro 3:20. An old-fashioned,
Methodist preacher did not beat around the bush when preaching on sin. He called
it the abominable thing that God hates. Later, one of his members came to him
saying, "We donít like you to talk so plainly about sin." Replied
the preacher as he picked up a bottle of strychnine clearly marked with a skull
and crossbones, "Suppose I take off this label of poison and put on some
mild label such as essence of peppermint? Donít you see what happens? The milder
you make the label, the more dangerous you make the poison." As a physician
does not prescribe an aspirin for cancer, but may order immediate surgery, so
it is with sin. Sin must be removed, blotted out, forgiven! And that is the
reason for which Jesus came. He came to save sinners. He died for our sins that
we might be forgiven. In 1Jn 1:7 we read, THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST HIS SON
CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN. The Bible says, BE NOT DECEIVED. Sin offers pleasure,
but produces death. Sin corrupts manís nature, perverts his tastes, weakens
his will, and sears his conscience.Perhaps our difficulty today
is not recognizing what sin is. Here are some scriptural definitions.1. Pv 24:9-THE THOUGHT OF FOOLISHNESS
IS SIN. How much time do we spend in needless jesting and joking? Paul writing
to the Ephesian Christians reminds them on account of FOOLISH TALKINGÖAND JESTING...COMETH
THE WRATH OF GOD UPON THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE-Eph 5:4,6. Certainly, we
are not to be long-faced. There is joy in serving the Lord. Nevertheless, we
are reminded, THE THOUGHT OF FOOLISHNESS IS SIN.2. In 1 Jn 5:17 we read, ALL
UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS SIN. There should not be any confusion as to what is wrong.
Lying, cheating, stealing, murder, adultery, fornication, etc., are all sins.3. In Ro 14:23 we read, WHATSOEVER
IS NOT OF FAITH IS SIN. In other words, we should believe that what we are doing
is right and conforms to the principles of Godís Word. Hypocrisy is sin. Withholding
the truth is sin. Martin Luther once said, "If I profess with the loudest
voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God, except precisely
that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking,
I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. In other
words, it is a form of denying Christ.4. Another definition is found
in Ja 2:9, IF YE HAVE RESPECT TO PERSONS, YE COMMIT SIN. The Gospel knows no
color boundaries, no race distinctions, no social levels, and no denominational
barriers when a person is truly born-again; for we are one in Christ.5. Again, James declares, THEREFORE
TO HIM THAT KNOWETH TO DO GOOD, AND DOETH IT NOT, TO HIM IT IS SIN-Ja 4:17.
To receive Christ, is lifeís greatest decision. Whereas to refuse Christ, is
to spend eternity in the lake of fire. What should you be doing that you are
not doing, but are being convicted of by the Holy Spirit? Could it be reading
your Bible more, having family devotions, praying more, visiting the sick and
shut-ins, witnessing to the lost, giving to the ministries in need of your help?
Sin is not only doing the "wrong things", but it is also failing to
do the right things. As we understand, Charles H. Spurgeon, perhaps the most
famous preacher of the 19th century, was the guest of a man who always
boasted of things he did not do. Finally, disgusted with the manís self-righteousness,
Spurgeon could stand it no longer, and replied, "Why man, you are simply
a bundle of negatives. You donít drink! You donít gamble! You donít swear! What
in the name of goodness do you do?"6. Another definition for sin
is found in 1 Jn 3:4, which reminds us that, SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE
LAW. To drive 70 miles per hour when the speed limit is 55 is transgression
of the law. The word transgression means to "go beyond a mark". Adam
and Eve transgressed when they violated Godís commandment.With these Bible definitions
of sin, we are reminded of the truth of Ro 3:23, FOR ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME
SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD. That makes us all sinners in need of salvation. Picture
a deep chasm several feet across. There are those seen jumping, in an effort
to get to the other side, but they plunge to their death below. Then a bridge
is built, so all can travel across the chasm safely. In like manner, Christ
is the Bridge. Though ALL HAVE SINNED, we read HE HATH MADE HIM TO BE SIN FOR
US, THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM-2 Cor 5:21. What sacrifice
He made to atone for your sins and mine. As a certain songwriter put it, "O
the love that drew salvationís plan; O the grace that brought it down to man:
O the mighty gulf that God did span, at Calvary!"But that is not the end of
the story. We are not only forgiven, we are set free! IF THE SON THEREFORE SHALL
MAKE YOU FREE, YE SHALL BE FREE INDEED-Jn 8:36. Again, THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT
OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS HATH MADE ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH-Ro 8:2.Is this what you want? Do you
want to be set free from the law of sin, which has an ugly hold upon you as
the fangs of a snake, or the teeth of a lion? Then realize our Lord triumphed
over Satan (Lucifer), the subtle serpent, who also walketh about as a roaring
lion. He is victorious over every foe. In "HIM", you are victorious,
too. Are you a slave to an ideology or slave to a system? Unless a man turns
his life over to Jesus Christ, he will always be a slave: a slave to his own
lust and passion, a slave to sin and Satan. I ask you for the sake of your eternal
welfare, where will you spend eternity? For your soulís sake, surrender all
to Jesus Christ.

1B-ANOTHER
COMMENTARY ON WHAT IS SIN?

It is disobedience to God. It is disobeying His Word. Sin is ultimately against
God. It is doing things that we are not to do, and it is not doing things that
we should do. It is not having a Christ-like attitude and not doing what Christ
would do in every situation. It is speaking things that we ought not to speak,
and it is not speaking things that we ought to speak. Sin is being stiff-necked,
stubborn, and rebellious to correction from Godís Word. Sin is wrong response
to Godís divine standards. It is rebelling against, falling short, or deviating
from the ways that God has established; as it is written, Isa 30:21-THIS IS
THE WAY, WALK YE IN IT. Sin is turning to the left or to the right-ref Deut
5:32, when God says to walk straight ahead or turn around. Sin is not walking
IN ALL THE WAYS WHICH THE LORD GOD HATH COMMANDED YOU-ref Deut 5:33. Sin is
not walking in the newness of life, not living and yielding unto God, and not
obeying God from the heart. Sin is not yielding your bodies servants to righteousness
unto holiness. Sin is not bringing forth fruit unto God or being conformed to
the image of His Son. Sin is walking after the flesh and after self. Sin is
not being ashamed of your past fruits or deeds-ref Ro 6. It is missing Godís
mark but even more.When a person follows self,
they (or what the Bible calls the old man) is the center of their own universe.
When a person follows Jesus, Jesus becomes the center of their universe.Manís very nature wants to
deny what sin is. Some menís consciences are so corrupt that it is as if they
are seared with a hot iron. They can do the most hideous acts and yet wipe their
mouth and say, "Iíve done no wrong." They feel no shame or guilt no
matter what they do. Manís corrupt thinking wants to deny he does or did wrong.
He wants to accuse and point fingers at others and justify himself. Manís very
nature from birth is wicked from the fall of Adam. Peopleís very nature is wrapped
up in self, not in God. A child does not have to be taught to lie and disobey
his parents. It is natural. Rather a child needs to be taught to be truthful
and obey his parents. Which keeps a child in check? Is it because he loves his
parents or is it the fear of being spanked? It is by the fear of God that men
depart from evil-ref Pv 16:6, not by the love of God. Those people that do not
fear God as they ought or refuse to believe it is God that chastens them when
they do wrong, often continue to do wrong. As it is written, THERE IS NO FEAR
OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES-Ro 1:18. Not only do people sin against Godís Word,
but they usually think nothing about breaking some of their own laws. For example,
do people consider it wrong to break the speed limit, run red lights, or not
come to a complete stop at stop signs? Does man consider it wrong to curse Godís
name or listen to others doing it, even in the movies or on television? Do most
people consider it wrong to lie in every situation or just in some situations?
Man is so corrupt in his thinking that he says he believes in God, and he believes
that God cannot lie, yet he refuses to believe all that God said in His Word.
Many claim they believe in God but do not believe that God created all things.
They choose to believe in the lie of evolution and many other such things contrary
to the Bible. Man does and chooses to believe that which is right in his own
eyes, and then he justifies it even when Godís Word tell him he is wrong. It
is written, Jere 17:9-THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS, AND DESPERATELY
WICKED: WHO CAN KNOW IT? Ro 3:23-FOR ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT OF THE
GLORY OF GOD. Ro 3:10-THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE. ISA 64:6-WE ARE
ALL AS AN UNCLEAN THING, AND ALL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSES ARE AS FILTHY RAGS; AND
WE ALL DO FADE AS A LEAF; AND OUR INIQUITIES, LIKE THE WIND, HAVE TAKEN US AWAY.Mankind by nature is spiritually
dead. People are by nature the servants or slaves of sin and of their own lusts
and warped desires. All need redemption. All need to repent. All need to acknowledge
their sin, confess their sins, deny self and surrender their will to Godís will.
All need Jesus for without Jesus, only eternal damnation lies ahead. Jesus came
to save His people from their sins. Few people in a lukewarm, financially prosperous,
comfort-seeking, and pleasure-filled society will do this. Few will give up
and forsake all now in order to obtain eternity with Jesus later. Many use the
Satan motivated sayings, "These Scriptures do not really mean what they
say," or "That's your interpretation, and it's wrong."It is written Mt 7:20-WHEREFORE
BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM. A mature believer is to be known by their
Christ-like attitude and overcoming sin in their daily lives. A mature believer
is known by his humble, childlike, no excuse, no self-justification, and repentant
attitude toward all correction from God, from His Word, from those He speaks
through, including His servants that He has ordained to be over us. The more
a person understands God, the more broken and humble he becomes. The closer
a person gets to God, the more sinful he can see himself when viewed in light
of Godís Word and Godís holiness, even as clean white clothes look good in a
dim light, but when viewed in a bright light, one can see all the dirt. The
lukewarm, Laodicean church of today has a very dim light indeed when looking
at sin. The more sinful a person sees himself, the more he loves God as he understands
the wonderful merciful, loving kindness of God called "grace," which
came as a result of the horrible sacrifice but glorious resurrection of Jesus.Jesus came to save people from
their sins. A person must put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their
only hope of salvation. It must be the Jesus Christ of the Bible, not another
Christ. A person must repent. After a person comes to Christ in trust and repentance,
then he is commanded to be baptized as it is written. He is born-again and no
longer comes under the law of sin and of death, but now comes under the law
of liberty. The person receives Godís Spirit by faith-ref Gal 3:2 to help him
overcome sin.

1C-FOR
SINNERS ONLY

I finally heard a "St. Peter at the Pearly Gates" story worth repeating.
This had to do with a rather learned and pious minister of a large church.The good pastor was quite confident
as he approached Peter, seeking entrance into heaven. "Iím sure you heard
of me," he told the apostle. "Iíve occupied a very important pulpit
for the past forty years and sent quite a few people your way. I imagine my
good works have been noticed up here, and now Iíd like to come in.""Actually, we havenít
heard of you," Peter replied, "but we have a point system in heaven
in order to be fair to everyone. Perhaps, you could outline your career in the
ministry for me, and Iíll give you the appropriate score for each of your actions."The pastor was very cooperative.
For the next hour or so, he related to the patient Peter, work after good work,
especially emphasizing his unblemished character and his forgiving nature. At
the end of it all, Peter was duly impressed. At length, he told the minister,
that he would award him a "10"."Does this mean I can
go into heaven now?" "Not at all," said Peter. "You need
100 points." The church man was aghast. "Are you kidding?" he
exclaimed. "I spent my whole life in the service of the Gospel, and youíre
giving me a measly 10 points!"Peter said, "Can you offer
me anything more that we might credit for you?" Well, as the day wore on
the minister kept digging around for every conceivable good service he had ever
done for the Lord, his church, his community, his denomination, etc., etc. The
hour grew late. The pastorís jacket was thrown over a chair, and his tie was
loosened. Perspiring, he finally looked up at Peter piteously, and said, "Dear
apostle, surely there is mercy in heaven. How many points do I have now?"
"Twenty points," Peter told him. "Oh, I just donít understand
this!" exclaimed the pastor, who was extremely frustrated. "Where
will I ever get the 80 more points? If it werenít for the grace of God, nobody
would ever get into this place!""Thatís 80," replied
Peter calmly. "Go on in."Our grateful appreciation to
Zola Levitt for the preceding article.Acts 2:38 tells us, REPENT,
AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU. Have you obeyed this command? Have you committed
your life to Jesus Christ, or to a church or denomination? Jesus is calling.
Sinner come home.

Every person has sinned. As it is written, FOR ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT
OF THE GLORY OF GOD-Ro 3:23.Sin began in the Garden of
Eden.

2-THE
GARDEN OF EDEN AND MAN

AND
THE LORD GOD PLANTED A GARDEN EASTWARD IN EDEN; AND THERE HE PUT THE MAN WHOM
HE HAD FORMED-Gen 2:8. AND THE LORD GOD TOOK THE MAN, AND PUT HIM INTO THE GARDEN
OF EDEN TO DRESS IT AND TO KEEP IT. Note, that the Lord put Adam where He wanted
him to be, and gave him work to do (to work it and take care of it). AND THE
LORD GOD COMMANDED THE MAN, SAYING, OF EVERY TREE OF THE GARDEN THOU MAYEST
FREELY EAT: BUT OF THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL, THOU SHALT NOT
EAT OF IT: FOR IN THE DAY THAT THOU EATEST THEREOF THOU SHALT SURELY DIE-Gen
2:15-17. Adam could eat of every tree, except one. God had given Adam a command.
Sin is disobeying Godís commandments. God also warned Adam of the consequences
of disobeying His command. The penalty for disobedience was death. Adamís obedience
was going to be tested. We are to fear God-ref Lk 12:5. For it is written, BY
THE FEAR OF THE LORD MEN DEPART FROM EVIL-Pv 16:6. We need to understand that
THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH-Ro 6:23. We surmise that Adam feared God and His judgment.
Adam had the choice of believing Godís Word or not believing it. Note that Adam
had fellowship with God. No sin separated him from God.

3-THE
LORD GOD MADE A WOMAN

THE
LORD GOD SAID, "IT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE MAN TO BE ALONE. I WILL MAKE A HELPER
SUITABLE FOR HIM." SO THE LORD GOD CAUSED THE MAN TO FALL INTO A DEEP SLEEP;
AND...HE TOOK ONE OF THE MANíS RIBS AND CLOSED UP THE PLACE WITH FLESH. THEN
THE LORD GOD MADE A WOMAN FROM THE RIB HE HAD TAKEN OUT OF THE MAN, AND HE BROUGHT
HER TO THE MAN-Gen 2:18,21,22 NIV. SO GOD CREATED MAN IN HIS OWN IMAGE...MALE
AND FEMALE CREATED HE THEM-Gen 1:27. HE...CALLED THEIR NAME ADAM, IN THE DAY
WHEN THEY WERE CREATED-Gen 5:2. AND GOD BLESSED THEM, AND GOD SAID UNTO THEM,
BE FRUITFUL, AND MULTIPLY, AND REPLENISH THE EARTH-Gen 1:28. THE MAN AND HIS
WIFE WERE BOTH NAKED, AND THEY FELT NO SHAME-Gen 2:25 NIV. The first marriage
was instituted by God.

4-THE
SERPENT, THE TEMPTATION (EVE DECEIVED)

As we examine how Satan deceived Eve, let us be mindful that he uses many of
these same devices on us today. He speaks to us in our thoughts, through other
people, through situations, through our flesh and emotions, and through unexpected
ways to cause us to do contrary to what God would have us do. He lies to us.
Sometimes he mixes the truth with lies. He stirs up our emotions. He uses our
anger, bitterness, fears, jealousy, envy, love, and even good intentions to
persuade us to do contrary to God's will. He uses temptations, persecutions,
and threats. He uses the pleasures of this life, the deceitfulness of riches,
the lusts of other things, and cares of this world. He uses things that our
heart desires. He uses our ambitions to get ahead, and prosper, and to get more
things. He uses our desire to be someone special. He makes us think we are doing
what God wants us to do, when in reality, we are disobeying God. He causes many
to believe the Bible is not true, and others to believe the Bible does not mean
what it really says. He causes many to believe he does not exist. He causes
others to greatly underestimate his powers of deception. Because of Satan's
lies, we become confused, and the Word of God becomes twisted in our minds.
He uses Scripture in our thoughts in such a way, that we become deceived. He
causes us not to hate sin and every evil way. He causes us to think we will
never have to face the judgment of God. He causes us to think we will go to
heaven, when in reality, we are on our way to hell. He causes us to examine
ourselves and our relationship to God by emotions, rather than by the truth
of the Gospel. He causes us to have many distractions when we open our Bible
to read and to study. He may send people to us who look like true Christians,
but they are in reality, wolves in sheepís clothing. And if God sends someone
to us, Satan puts in our thoughts reasons to cause us to believe the person
is not from God at all. Satan causes us to think the thoughts we are having,
which cause us to sin, are really our own thoughts. Other times, he causes us
to think the thoughts we are having are from God, when they are really from
Satan.He causes us to think the ministers
of God are really false ministers, and the false ministers are really ministers
of God. As it is written, FOR SUCH ARE FALSE APOSTLES, DECEITFUL WORKERS, TRANSFORMING
THEMSELVES INTO THE APOSTLES OF CHRIST. AND NO MARVEL; FOR SATAN HIMSELF IS
TRANSFORMED INTO AN ANGEL OF LIGHT. THEREFORE IT IS NO GREAT THING IF HIS MINISTERS
ALSO BE TRANSFORMED AS THE MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS-2 Cor 11:13-15.Satan is a master of deception.
As it is written, THAT OLD SERPENT, CALLED THE DEVIL, AND SATAN, WHICH DECEIVETH
THE WHOLE WORLD-Rev 12:9. Satan is also called the accuser-Rev 12:10.In Ezekiel chapter 28, we see
some references pertaining to Satan. In verse 12, we see the words, FULL OF
WISDOM, AND PERFECT IN BEAUTY. In verse 13, THOU HAST BEEN IN EDEN THE GARDEN
OF GOD. Verse 13 also shows us, he was CREATED. Verse 17 tells us, THINE HEART
WAS LIFTED UP BECAUSE OF THY BEAUTY, THOU HAST CORRUPTED THY WISDOM BY REASON
OF THY BRIGHTNESS. Isa 14:12-14 gives us additional information, O LUCIFER,
SON OF THE MORNING!...THOU HAST SAID IN THINE HEARTÖI WILL EXALT MY THRONE ABOVE
THE STARS OF GODÖI WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH. Thus, we note that the serpent,
was FULL OF WISDOM, and PERFECT IN BEAUTY, and had much BRIGHTNESS. Most people
greatly underestimate Satanís ability to deceive.NOW THE SERPENT (which is also
called Satan, the Devil, and Lucifer) WAS MORE SUBTIL (or crafty) THAN ANY BEAST
(or wild animal) OF THE FIELD WHICH THE LORD GOD HAD MADE. AND HE SAID UNTO
THE WOMAN, YEA, HATH GOD SAID (or did God really say), YE SHALL NOT EAT OF EVERY
TREE OF THE GARDEN?-Gen 3:1. The serpent, which is also called Satan, now begins
a process of causing Eve to be confused, deceived, to doubt what God had said,
and, ultimately, to cause her to disobey Godís command. You and I hear that
same voice today in our thoughts. Also note, that the serpent did not use Godís
words in this case, but rather used an evasive, deceptive approach, by saying,
"HATH GOD SAID" and then using the words, "YE SHALL NOT
EAT OF EVERY TREE OF THE GARDEN?" As the serpent spoke, he did not
call God, Lord God (or Jehovah God), but addressed him only as God, perhaps
trying to belittle Jehovah God. From the first three words, "HATH GOD SAID,"
it can be seen that the serpent is an enemy of God. He is attempting to bring
doubt about the Word of God. He is challenging Godís Word. He begins with a
question to open the conversation. It is as if he wants to know something, but
it is really the beginning of a deception. It is intended to cause doubt in
the womanís mind. God is not the author of confusion, but Satan is-ref l Cor
14:33. Thus, we have the beginning of the serpentís attack in causing the woman
to doubt, to be confused, and to be deceived. Eve did not understand the great
deceptive and crafty ways of the devil. She underestimated the devil, as people
also do today. The woman should have turned away, but she did not. She chose
to enter into dialogue with the serpent. That dialogue proved to be a great
mistake. She did not realize that the devil was her enemy. The serpent also
seems to be implying that God is too demanding and overbearing, and He does
not really love the woman, because she could eat of every tree, except one.
Surely, if God really loved her, He would give her everything she wanted.AND THE WOMAN SAID UNTO THE
SERPENT, WE MAY EAT OF THE FRUIT OF THE TREES OF THE GARDEN: BUT OF THE FRUIT
OF THE TREE WHICH IS IN THE MIDST OF THE GARDEN, GOD HATH SAID, YE SHALL NOT
EAT OF IT, NEITHER SHALL YE TOUCH IT, LEST YE DIE-Gen 3:2,3. Note confusion,
as to what God had said, seems to be setting in. In her thoughts, she must have
begun to question Godís Word. Eve had said certain words which God had not said,
such as, NEITHER SHALL YE TOUCH IT. Her response to the serpent was a general
impression of what she believed God had said, rather than Godís exact words.
It may also be noted that she said, YE SHALL NOT EAT OF IT,...LEST YE DIE. God
had said, THOU SHALT SURELY DIE. Her reply, LEST YE DIE, does not seem to carry
the force that Godís Word had carried. Her way of replying may indicate that
her belief and trust in God and His Word was like a wave; however, she did fear
Godís judgment. Thus, if Satan is to be successful in causing her to disobey
God, he needs to eliminate the fear of Godís judgment, which is death. Satan
had won the first round.AND THE SERPENT SAID UNTO THE
WOMAN, YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE-Gen 3:4. God had said, THOU SHALT SURELY DIE.
Surely, God would not cause her to die, for simply eating of the fruit of one
particular tree. Satanís words, YE SHALL NOT, carries with it a certain amount
of force. Satan is directly contradicting Godís Word and undermining the concept
of Godís absolute authority. Satan is scoffing Godís authority. He seems to
be suggesting that the woman is confined by her position of believing and trusting
in Godís Word. "YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE", is the same lie that he
puts in our thoughts today. Satan puts in our thoughts that we will not perish,
and that hell is only for bad people. He puts in our thoughts that we are a
pretty good person, and therefore, God will surely let us into heaven. Satan
may tell us that there is no such place as hell, or the lake of fire; and if
there was, surely, a good, loving, and merciful God would never send us there.
Satan may tell us that the idea of eternal punishment is just not true. The
devil may tell us that it is all right to disobey God. It is all right to sin.
It is all right to live any way we want. The devil may tell us we do not have
to repent of all sin. We do not need to read the Bible. We do not need to hear
and obey the Gospel. We do not need to go to church. Satan may tell us in our
thoughts that we will never have to give an account for our sin. We will never
have to face the judgment of a Holy God. We do not have to worry. God will never
let us perish to the lake of fire. Through this, she must have begun to question
Godís Word.Here is the conflict. It is
between the truth of Godís Word, and the lies Satan puts in our thoughts. It
is between the truth of Godís Word, and our emotions. It is between the truth
of Godís Word, and our fleshly desires. We are in a battle between the TRUTH
of Godís Word, and the lies of the devil. There is a battle going on in our
thoughts between the truth of Godís Word, and the traditions of men, pastors,
churches, denominations, and our own wrong thinking. Satan is a master at confusing
us, deceiving us, and causing us to doubt. It is written, THE DEVIL...IS A LIAR,
AND THE FATHER OF IT-Jn 8:44. In telling the woman that YE SHALL NOT SURELY
DIE, the serpent is also insinuating that God lied to her.The serpent had first planted
doubt and confusion in the womanís mind. Now, by directly contradicting Godís
Word of truth, he was attempting to remove the fear of Godís judgment, which
was, THOU SHALT SURELY DIE. The woman was going to have to choose which voice
she would believe. She was going to have to choose whether she would put her
faith in the words of the Lord God, or put her faith in the words of the serpent.
We are faced with this same choice. Will we put our faith in the Word of God
(the Bible), or will we put our faith in the wrong thoughts we have in our mind,
or hear from blind teachers or other people? If the woman chooses to believe
the serpentís words, rather than Godís Word, he will have succeeded. Thus, the
serpent realized he needed to do more, than just contradict Godís Word. He had
to persuade the woman in other ways also.Next the serpent will attempt
to explain to her why God lied. Satan is also called the ACCUSER-ref Rev 12:10.
He accuses the brethren, and he accuses God. The serpent then said, FOR GOD
DOTH KNOW THAT IN THE DAY YE EAT THEREOF, THEN YOUR EYES SHALL BE OPENED, AND
YE SHALL BE AS GODS, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL-Gen 3:5. Note Satanís words, FOR
GOD DOTH KNOW. This gives the impression that it is all right in the eyes of
God, and that God misled her for these reasons.Satan then told her, THAT IN
THE DAY YE EAT THEREOF. It appears the serpent is trying to cause her to disobey
God sooner, rather than later.Then he continued by saying,
THEN YOUR EYES SHALL BE OPENED. The serpent is arousing her curiosity.
He is tempting her by trying to make her believe there is something very good
and special that will happen to her if she would just eat of the fruit, and
disobey God. She must have wondered what it might mean that her eyes would be
opened.Then Satan continued with the
words, AND YE SHALL BE AS GODS. What a wonderful promise the serpent was giving
her, YE SHALL BE AS GODS. To be a god is to be able to do whatever you want,
and to give account to no one. To be a god is to be something special, to control
your own destiny, and certainly it is something many people want today. It is
a form of preaching that abounds today in many churches.Then the serpent adds these
words, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL. Satan was telling the woman that the path to knowledge
is to bypass Godís Word. The woman must have wondered, "What is good and
evil?" Indeed, if she would disobey God and do as the devil was tempting
her to do, she would know and understand GOOD AND EVIL. She would also die,
even though Satan had assured her that she would not die. Satanís very clever
and deceitful words which were filled with half truths and lies, were having
an effect on the woman. The fear of Godís judgment had been eliminated. Now
she was being tempted with things that could be greatly desired. She must have
wondered since God knew all this anyway, "Surely, it must be all right."The serpent had used
only about 46 words which changed the history of the world.
Do not underestimate your enemy, the devil. Satan knows just what thoughts to
put in our mind to tempt us. These thoughts are just what our heart wants to
hear. It is written, SATAN! YOU...HAVE IN MIND...THE THINGS OF MEN-Mt 16:23
NIV.Now the lusts of the flesh
come into play. Food can be a great temptation. The lusts and desires of the
flesh and of our eyes can be a great temptation. Also, if we believe there is
nothing wrong with doing something, then why not do it? Satan may tell us in
our thoughts, "If it feels all right, then it must be all right."AND WHEN THE WOMAN SAW
THAT THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD, AND THAT IT WAS PLEASANT (or
pleasing) TO THE EYES, AND A TREE TO BE DESIRED TO MAKE ONE WISE
(or desirable for gaining wisdom)-Gen 3:6. The verse said,item one-THE
WOMAN SAWÖitem two-THAT
IT WAS PLEASANT (or pleasing) TO THE EYES. The lusts of the eyes began to prompt
her to sin. Sight can be a pathway to lead us to sin.item three-She
saw that the TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD. The lusts of the flesh begin to prompt
her to disobey God. Food can be a pathway to lead us to sin. Satan tempted Jesus
regarding food.item four
She saw that the tree was TO BE DESIRED.item five-TO
MAKE ONE WISE.Desire can lead to covetousness
which is sin. The idea that we canít have something may make us to want it even
more. The womanís fleshly desires must have elevated. Her ungodly desires were
prompting her to sin. She began to desire and covet the fruit. Godís Word warns
us about being covetous. Indeed, the eyes of man never seem to be satisfied-ref
Pv 27:20. She had the magnificent Garden of Eden to dwell in. She could eat
of every tree of the garden, but it wasnít enough. She did not seem to be thankful
for all that she had. She wanted more. We might consider, Ro 1:21,24-BECAUSE
THAT, WHEN THEY KNEW GOD, THEY GLORIFIED HIM NOT AS GOD, NEITHER WERE THANKFUL;
BUT BECAME VAIN (or futile) IN THEIR IMAGINATIONS (or thinking), AND THEIR FOOLISH
HEART WAS DARKENED. The serpent caused her to look at what she did not have,
rather than what she did have.The fear of Godís judgment
had been eliminated. She was no longer afraid of the judgment of death. She
also realized that there should be great benefits in eating this particular
fruit. As it might be said by the devil, "There is nothing to lose, and
everything to gain." It is written: THERE IS A WAY WHICH SEEMETH RIGHT
UNTO A MAN, BUT THE END THEREOF ARE THE WAYS OF DEATH-Pv 14:12. It seemed right
to the woman to eat of the fruit.It may be that the woman was
now so stirred up about eating the forbidden fruit, that she ran to the tree
to eat. So the woman, SHE TOOK OF THE FRUIT THEREOF, AND DID EAT-Gen 3:6. SHE
TOOK. SHE...DID EAT. The woman: she saw, she desired, she took, and then she
ate. The woman had sinned. She had disobeyed God. AND ADAM WAS NOT DECEIVED,
BUT THE WOMAN BEING DECEIVED WAS IN THE TRANSGRESSION-l Tim 2:14. Yet at this
point, she did not yet seem to be conscious that she had done wrong.

5-SPIRITUAL
WARFARE: THE TEMPTATION AND THE FALL OF MAN(ADAM
DISOBEYS GOD)

She now wants her husband to share in what she considered to be her good fortune,
but was really a wicked sin. Many times we may do something wrong, and then
we want to get other people involved also. We want other people to see it "our"
way. AND (she) GAVE ALSO UNTO HER HUSBAND WITH HER; AND HE DID EAT-Gen 3:6.
Adam had become the follower of his wife, rather than a follower of the Lord
God. Adam, who was the leader, became the follower of the woman. It seemed right
to Adam to follow his wifeís word, rather than Godís Word.Sin had now entered into the
world. Adam (the man) from which the blood line comes, had sinned. WHEREFORE,
AS BY ONE MAN SIN ENTERED INTO THE WORLD, AND DEATH BY SIN; AND SO DEATH
PASSED UPON ALL MEN, FOR THAT ALL HAVE SINNED-Ro 5:12. THEREFORE AS BY THE OFFENSE
OF ONE JUDGMENT CAME UPON ALL MEN TO CONDEMNATION...FOR AS BY ONE MANíS DISOBEDIENCE
MANY WERE MADE SINNERS-Ro 5:18,19.

The
work of the devil is to cause us to sin. Sin desires to reign over us. Satan
desires to rule over us. As it is written, SIN IS CROUCHING AT YOUR DOOR; IT
DESIRES TO HAVE YOU-Gen 4:7 NIV. FOR A MAN IS A SLAVE TO WHATEVER HAS MASTERED
HIM-2 Pe 2:19 NIV. FOR THE FLESH LUSTETH AGAINST THE SPIRIT, AND THE SPIRIT
AGAINST THE FLESH: AND THESE ARE CONTRARY THE ONE TO THE OTHER: SO THAT YE CANNOT
DO THE THINGS THAT YE WOULD-Gal 5:17. Romans chapter 6 gives us
the picture of the person that is not submitted to God.
They CONTINUE IN SIN-ref verse 1.
They live in sin-ref verse 2.
They SERVE SIN-ref verse 6. Sin reigns in their body-ref
verse 12.
They OBEY sin or lusts-ref verse 12.
They YIELD their MEMBERS (or body) AS INSTRUMENTS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS
UNTO SIN-ref verse 13.
Sin has DOMINION OVER them-ref verse 14.
They YIELD themselves SERVANTS TO OBEY...SIN-ref verse 16.
They are SERVANTS OF SIN-ref verse 17.
They yield their MEMBERS (or body) SERVANTS TO UNCLEANNESS-ref
verse 19.
They yield their members (or body) SERVANTS TO...INIQUITY
UNTO INIQUITY-ref verse 19.
The result is death, for THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH- ref verse
23.

But Godís Word also shows us in Romans chapter 6,Do not CONTINUE IN SIN-ref
verse l.Do not LIVE ANY LONGER in sin-ref
verse 2.WE SHOULD NOT SERVE SIN-verse
6.Do not let SIN...REIGN IN YOUR
MORTAL BODY-ref verse 12.We should not OBEY sin IN THE
LUSTS THEREOF-ref verse 12.Do not yield your members (or
body) AS INSTRUMENTS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO SIN-ref verse 13. GOD FORBID that we should SIN-ref
verse 15.YIELD YOUR MEMBERS SERVANTS
TO RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO HOLINESS-verse 19,FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH-verse
23.

7-ADAM
HAD SINNED: THEIR EYES WERE OPENED, THEY SOUGHT TO COVER THEIR NAKEDNESS

AND THE EYES OF THEM BOTH WERE OPENED, AND THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE NAKED; AND
THEY SEWED FIG LEAVES TOGETHER, AND MADE THEMSELVES APRONS (or coverings)-Gen
3:7. Now they realized that God meant what He said, but it was
too late. The serpent had very skillfully beguiled, confused, and deceived the
woman. He had used a combination of half truths and lies. Satan had told her
what her heart wanted to hear. Satan knows how to put in our thoughts just what
we want to hear. Then her own desires had overcome her, and she disobeyed God.
Then Adam obeyed his wife, rather than God. He also ate of the fruit, and disobeyed
God. AND THE EYES OF THEM BOTH WERE OPENED. They now understood good and evil.
They now saw things differently than they had before. Soon they would understand
judgment and the consequences of sin, FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH-Ro 6:23.They now knew good, but were
unable to do it. They now knew evil, and were unable to resist it.THEY KNEWÖTHEY WERE NAKED.
They now understood things that they did not understand before. Sin makes us
naked, and NAKEDNESS is a shame (or shameful)-ref Rev 3:18. They now
wanted to cover or hide their shame, their nakedness, their sin.THEY SEWED FIG LEAVES TOGETHER,
AND MADE THEMSELVES APRONS (coverings). The fig leaves are manís attempt to
save himself by a bloodless religion of good works. Fig leaves cannot cleanse
us or wash us from our sins. Fig leaves cannot cover the shame of our nakedness.
People often try to hide their sins. It is written, IF I HAVE CONCEALED MY
SIN AS MEN DO, BY HIDING MY GUILT IN MY HEART BECAUSE I SO FEARED THE CROWD
AND SO DREADED THE CONTEMPT OF THE CLANS THAT I KEPT SILENT AND WOULD NOT GO
OUTSIDE-Job 31:33,34 NIV. Many people today attempt to cover their sin and nakedness
in a variety ways. They may do this by performing good works, or following a
certain denomination. Some may try to cover their shame by preaching in pulpits,
or auditoriums, or even on the mission field. Their preaching consists of words
and stories of men, with very little of the Word of God. They have TURNED TO
MEANINGLESS TALK. THEY WANT TO BE TEACHERS OF THE LAW (or Bible), BUT THEY DO
NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT-ref 1 Tim 1:6,7 NIV. They do not understand
that they do not know what they are talking about BECAUSE THE DARKNESS they
are walking in HAS BLINDED their eyes--ref l Jn 2:11 NIV. Some try to cover
their nakedness by going to church, and singing in the choir, or teaching a
Sunday school. What better place to ease the conscience from sin than behind
a pulpit, or in a lukewarm church that does not preach on sin, and judgment,
and eternal damnation. Some try to cover their nakedness by giving money to
their church or charitable organizations, or even getting involved in worldly
causes that seem good and right. They may have the praise of men, but they will
perish to hell.Many people today refuse to
admit they sin or do wrong. They do not even know they are naked. Their covering
is deceit. Their CONSCIENCES HAVE BEEN SEARED AS WITH A HOT IRON-1 Tim 4:2 NIV.
They are like trees walking about without understanding-ref Mk 8:24. They do
not understand Godís Word. Adamís intimate relationship with God was broken.
Billions of graves testify that when God said, THOU SHALT SURELY DIE, He meant
exactly what He said. Indeed, these graves are proof that Godís Word is true.The man and woman covered their
nakedness from each other, and then hid from the Lord God. And from that time,
even until now, people continue to speak and do evil and hope that no one will
find out. They continue to try to hide their evil doings from others and from
God.

8-ADAM
AND THE WOMAN HIDE FROM THE LORD GOD

AND THEY HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LORD GOD WALKING IN THE GARDEN IN THE
COOL OF THE DAY: AND ADAM AND HIS WIFE HID THEMSELVES FROM THE PRESENCE
OF THE LORD GOD AMONGST THE TREES OF THE GARDEN-Gen 3:8. Shame, fear, and guilt
are often a result of sin. Sin perverts our judgment, and deceives us. It is
written, SIN...DECEIVED ME, AND...IT SLEW ME-Ro 7:11. Adam did not see the face
of God, but rather HEARD THE VOICE OFÖGOD. ADAM AND HIS WIFE HID. Often-times,
when the light appears, darkness wants to hide. Light exposes darkness. It is
written, EVERYONE WHO DOES EVILÖ.WILL NOT COME INTO THE LIGHT FOR FEAR
THAT HIS DEEDS WILL BE EXPOSED-Jn 3:20 NIV.They were afraid. Adam did
not want his nakedness exposed. He did not want his sin exposed. As it is written,
IF I COVERED MY TRANSGRESSIONS AS ADAM, BY HIDING MINE INIQUITY IN MY BOSOM
(or heart)-Job 31:33. Judgment was about to come upon them, and they did not
want to face it. Sin causes us to be more concerned with what happens to us,
than the fact that we disobeyed God. Sin can cause us to be more concerned with
our appearance and what people think about us, than the fact that we have sinned
against a Holy God. Adam was more aware of his nakedness, than the fact he had
disobeyed the Lord God. Adam seemed more concerned with the consequences of
what he had done, than with the sin he had committed. Sin seeks a refuge in
hiding, in evasion, in half truths, lying, and deceit. Our flesh wants to sin,
and do those things which are pleasing to our worldly nature, but we donít want
to pay the price for what we do. Why should Adam and the woman have been afraid
when they were naked? Their nakedness revealed their transgression. We need
to understand, IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MEN ONCE TO DIE, BUT AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT-Heb
9:27. By hiding, did they think they would somehow escape the judgment of God?
Did they think God would not find them and that He would just go away and forget
that they had sinned? Did they think that God had forgotten the words He had
spoken? Satan puts in the minds of many people today that they will never be
called to the judgment and that it will all turn out all right. Remember, there
is a battle going on in our thoughts, between the TRUTH of Godís Word and the
deceiving lies and half truths of the devil.

9-A
NOTE OF INTEREST: HE THAT DOETH EVIL HATETH THE LIGHT

AND
THIS IS THE CONDEMNATION, THAT LIGHT (Jesus) IS COME INTO THE WORLD, AND MEN
"LOVED" DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT, "BECAUSE" THEIR DEEDS
WERE EVIL. FOR EVERY ONE THAT '"DOETH" EVIL HATETH THE LIGHT (Jesus),
NEITHER COMETH TO THE LIGHT (to Jesus), LEST HIS DEEDS (what he does) SHOULD
BE REPROVED. (The person that does evil will not come to Jesus, for fear that
what he does will be exposed and made known). BUT HE THAT DOETH TRUTH COMETH
TO THE LIGHT, THAT HIS DEEDS MAY BE MADE MANIFEST (or made known or plainly
seen), THAT THEY ARE WROUGHT IN GOD-Jn 3:19-21. Adam and the woman hid. They
were afraid.

10-WHAT
ADAM SHOULD HAVE DONE, BUT DID NOT

Adam should have run to God and confessed his sin and sought for mercy, but
he did not. He made an excuse. He blamed the woman. How hard it is for man to
be open and transparent and blame no one, but himself.The woman blamed the serpent.The end result is that God
kept His Word. He pronounced judgment.Billions of graves attest that
Godís Word is true.